LinkedIn opens Singapore data hub, first outside US

The logo for LinkedIn Corporation, a social networking networking website for people in professional occupations, is shown in Mountain View, California

Professional networking site LinkedIn has opened an S$80 million data centre in Singapore, its first data centre outside of the US.

The office will process LinkedIn's online traffic in the Asia-Pacific region and handle about a third of global traffic, the company said in a statement.

"Asia Pacific is our fastest growing region in terms of member base outside of the US. Singapore is the natural choice for us to locate this new data centre, as it is already our Asia Pacific headquarters," LinkedIn Asia Pacific Managing Director of Olivier Legrand said.

The 23,500-square-feet facility, which is set up is Digital Realty Trust's data centre in Jurong, was established in partnership with the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB).

LinkedIn said the total number of members on the social networking platform rose to more than 85 million at the end of 2015.

Singapore offers cutting-edge infrastructure and talent the company needs to continue to improve the service and global connectivity, Legrand said.

Singapore's Economic Development Board said the LinkedIn facility establishes Singapore's position as the region's leading data management and connectivity hub.